Lukas Podolski: He will soon be playing for the Kölner Haie

The Kölner Haie did it: They sold 100,000 symbolic tickets. Also thanks to soccer world champion Lukas Podolski.

Lukas Podolski (35) changes the sport. The soccer world champion from 2014 will soon be on the ice for the Kölner Haie ice hockey team. The 35-year-old lost a bet.

This is how it came about: Like all teams in the German Ice Hockey League, the Kölner Haie also suffer from the fact that the spectator stands will remain empty in the coming season due to the corona pandemic. According to the association, 80 percent of all revenue is generated by viewers. To cushion the huge minus, the Haie offered 100,000 symbolic tickets for sale. After the announcement of this promotion, Podolski bet: If the club manages to sell the 100,000 tickets, he will become a Haie player.

"I'm really happy for the Haie that the 100,000 tickets have come together," Podolski is quoted in a message from the club. "Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to becoming a Haie player." As the Haie further report, the sale of the 100,000 tickets created an "important building block" for being able to participate in the coming season at all.